Relief-valve mechanism.



J. L. MOYER.

RELIEF VALVE MEUHANISM. APPLIOATION FILED NOV. 2, 190a,

Patented May 18, 1909.

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ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT UFFiQE.

JOHN L. MOYER, OF STRAFFORD, PENNSYLVANIA.

RELIEF-VALVE MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 2, 1908.

Patented May 18, 1909.

Serial N0. 460,670.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN L. Moran, a citizen of the United States,residing at Strafford, in the'county of Chester and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Relief-ValveMechanism.

My invention is a valve mechanism designed primarily for the automaticrelief of air and water from steam heating systems, where it isnecessary to satisfactory operation that the water of condensation bewithdrawn and the air collected be removed. In valves heretofore usedfor these purposes it has been customary to have vents for the escape ofair but such vents have been found ineffective and unsatisfactorybecause of the necessity of making them so large originally, to avoid asfar as possible their closure by sediment, rust and the like, thatinitially there is a wasteful escape of steam and finally they becomeclogged so that the air cannot escape automatically, with the resultthat manual relief must be provided.

It is a'leading object of my invention to provide for the relief of thewater and air by improved means which will automatically maintain theair vent open, in clean condition, and consequently permit the use of avent so small as to prevent the escape of steam therethrough or reduceit to a minimum, whether the system operates above or below atmosphericpressure.

It is a further object of my improvements to provide means for trappingand periodically withdrawing sediment or other solid matter that may becollected, so that interference with the automatic relief mechanism maybe avoided and the system relieved of obstruction.

The accompanying drawing is a sectional elevation representing valvemechanism embodying my invention.

As represented in the drawing, the mechanism comprises a casing 1 havingthe inlet 2 and the outlet 3 with the diaphragm 4 fixed between them,the casing having the cap 5 screwed into the top thereof. A port 6 isprovided in the diaphragm 4 and fixed to a float 7 within the casing isa valve in the form of the puppet 8 adapted to control the port, thefloat and puppet having a tube or tubular passage 9 extendingtherethrough in line with the port. A movable diaphragm 10 has itsperiphery clamped to the body of the casing 1 by the cap 5, the latterhaving therein the air vent 11,-and fixed to the center of the diaphragmis a rod 12 which extends through the passage 9. A sediment pocket 13,extending below the port 6, has near the bottom thereof the port 14: bywhich it discharges to the outlet 3, the port being controlled by avalve in the form of the plug 15, which has a squared head 16 for theengagement of a wrench and a threaded shank 17 for engagement within theinternally threaded spud 18 on the casing. The mechanism has its inlet 2connected by the union 19 with a section 20 of the circulating system.

In operation, the respective ports 6 and 14 are normally closed by thepuppet 8 and the plug 15, the casing 1 collects air in the systemsection connected therewith by the inlet 2 and discharges it to theoutlet 3 through the passage 9 by way of its slight free spacesurrounding the rod 12. Condensed water is collected in the trap formedby the extension of the bottom of the easing 1 below the inlet 2 andlifts the float 7 with the puppet 8 to open the port 6 to discharge thebulk of the water in the trap. Sediment is collected in the pocket 13and is removed by withdrawing the plug 15 and opening its port 14. Thediaphragm 10 reciprocates as a consequence of variations of pressurewithin the system and causes the reciprocation of the rod 12 in the airtube, while the movements of the float reciprocate the tube upon therod. The consequent rubbing between the tube and the rod keeps theircontacting surfaces clean and maintains a free air vent, which has theminimum cross sectional area because its walls are kept smooth andclean.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

A valve mechanism having a port, a reciprocating valve for controllingsaid port, a. float fixed to said valve for operating it, said valve andfloat having a passage therethrough adapted to discharge through saidport, disposed in said passage for keeping it clean a rod designed topermit the escape of air and to prevent the flow of a substantial 1908,in the presence of the subscribing Witamount of steam through saidpassage, and nesses. a diaphragm to which said rod is fixed, saiddiaphragm being adapted to be reciprocated 5 by changes of pressurethereon. Witnesses:

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set ROBERT JAMES EARLEY, my name this29th day of October A. D. JAs. G. DENNY, Jr.

JOHN L. MOYER.

